TASCAM TM-250U Owner’s Manual

: June 6, 2024
: TASCAM

Table of Contents

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
Cleaning the unit
Using the TEAC Global Site
Product registration
FEATURES
Included items
Names and Functions of Parts
Using the mic
Troubleshooting
Specifications
Computer system requirements
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Download This Manual (PDF format)

TM-250U

You can also download this Owner’s Manual from the TASCAM website.

TASCAM website https://tascam.jp/int/product/tm-250u/docs
OWNER’S MANUAL

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

For U.S.A.
Declaration of Conformity
Model Number: TM-250U
Trade Name: TASCAM
Responsible party: TEAC AMERICA, INC.
Address: 10410 Pioneer Blvd. Suite #1 Santa Fe Springs, California 90670, U.S.A.
Telephone number: 1-323-726-0303
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

INFORMATION TO THE USER
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures.

a) Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
b) Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
c) Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
d) Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/ TV technician for help.

CAUTION
Changes or modifications to this equipment not expressly approved by TEAC CORPORATION for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate this equipment.

For Canada
THIS CLASS B DIGITAL APPARATUS COMPLIES WITH CANADIAN ICES-003. CET APPAREIL NUMERIQUE DE LA CLASSE B EST CONFORME A LA NORME NMB-003 DU CANADA.

Read these instructions.
Keep these instructions.
Heed all warnings.
Follow all instructions.
Do not use this apparatus near water.
Clean only with dry cloth.
Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat.
Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has two blades with one wider than the other. A grounding type plug has two blades and a third grounding prong. The wide blade or the third prong are provided for your safety. If the provided plug does not fit into your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet.
Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the apparatus.
Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.
Use only with the cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table specified by the manufacturer, or sold with the apparatus. When a cart is used, use caution when moving the cart/apparatus combination to avoid injury from tip-over.
Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.
Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as power-supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.

Do not expose this apparatus to drips or splashes.
Do not place any objects filled with liquids, such as vases, on the apparatus.
Do not install this apparatus in a confined space such as a book case or similar unit.
D01383200C 0721·MA-3199C

WARNING

To prevent possible hearing damage, do not listen at high volume levels for long periods.

Warning: Potentially hazardous situations such as fire and electric shock which, if not avoided, can result in death or serious injury.

If errors occur during use, discontinue use immediately and contact your local dealer or our service department.
Do not dismantle or modify the product. Failure to follow this instruction may cause the product to malfunction, catch fire, generate excessive heat,cause damage to the product or other problems. TEAC is not responsible for any damage to the product caused by unauthorized modification.

Other cautions

Do not install in the following types of places.
Doing so could cause malfunctions.
Places with significant vibrations or that are otherwise unstable
Near windows or other places exposed to direct sunlight
Near heaters or other extremely hot places
Extremely cold places
Places with bad ventilation or high humidity
Very dusty locations
Avoid installing this unit on top of any heatgenerating electrical device such as a power amplifier.
Do not let the unit become wet.
If the unit is moved from a cold to a warm place, or used after a sudden temperature change, there is a danger of condensation; vapor in the air could condense on the internal mechanism, making correct operation impossible. To prevent this, or if this occurs, let the unit sit for one or two hours at the new room temperature before using.
If you are experiencing problems with this product, contact TEAC for a service referral. Do not use the product until it has been repaired.

For European Customers
Disposal of electrical and electronic equipment
(a) All electrical and electronic equipment should be disposed of separately from the municipal waste stream via collection facilities designated by the government or local authorities.
(b) By disposing of electrical and electronic equipment correctly, you will help save valuable resources and prevent any potential negative effects on human health and the environment.
(c) Improper disposal of waste electrical and electronic equipment can have serious effects on the environment and human health because of the presence of hazardous substances in the equipment.
(d) The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) symbol, which shows a wheeled bin that has been crossed out, indicates that electrical and electronic equipment must be collected and disposed of separately from household waste.
(e) Return and collection systems are available to end users. For more detailed information about the disposal of old electrical and electronic equipment, please contact your city office, waste disposal service or the shop where you purchased the equipment.

This product complies with the European Directives request and the other Commission Regulations.

Cleaning the unit

Use a soft dry cloth to wipe the unit clean. Do not use chemically-treated cleaning cloths, thinner, alcohol or similar substances to wipe the unit. Doing so could damage the surface or cause discoloration.

Using the TEAC Global Site

You can download this Owner’s Manual and the Reference Manual necessary for this unit from the TEAC Global Site (http://teac-global.com/). In the TASCAM Downloads section, select the desired language to open the Downloads website page for that language.

Product registration

Customers in the USA, please visit the following TASCAM website to register your TASCAM product online. http://tascam.com/

FEATURES

Direct connection with Windows and Mac computers possible using a single USB cable
Supports USB class-compliant devices so no driver is necessary
Supports 16-bit/48kHz sampling
Headphone output jack (3-contact mini stereo) enables direct monitoring
Built-in headphone volume control
Mic volume (gain) control built into mic
Built-in mic mute button
Sturdy metal body
USB A-C cable (2.0 m), mic holder (5/8screw diameter) and tabletop mic stand included

Included items

This product includes the following items. Take care when opening the package to avoid damaging the items. Keep the box and packing materials for transportation in the future. Please contact the store where you purchased this unit if any of these items are missing or have been damaged during transportation.

TM-250U mic…………………………………………………………× 1
Mic holder ……………………………………………………………..× 1
Tabletop mic stand ………………………………………………× 1
USB cable (2m, Type-A to Type-C) ……………………..× 1
Owner’s Manual (this document) including
warranty…………………………………………………………………× 1

Names and Functions of Parts

Front panel

Indicator
This lights green when connected to a computer that is powered on. This lights red when the MUTE button is on.
MUTE button
Use this to mute (silence) the mic signal.Button state| Function
---|---
| On
| Off
GAIN knob
Use this to adjust the mic input level.
VOLUME knob
Use this to adjust the headphone output level.
Bottom
USB port
This is a USB Type-C port. The included USB cable (Type-A to Type-C) can be used to connect this to a computer.
Headphone jack
Use this mini stereo jack (3.5mm) to connect stereo headphones. Use an adapter to connect headphones with a standard stereo plug (6.3mm).

Using the mic

Minimize the GAIN and VOLUME knobs.
Turn off the MUTE button.
Use the included USB cable (Type-A to Type-C) to connect the mic to a computer USB port. When the USB connection is working, the indicator above the MUTE button will light green.
NOTE
• Connect this product directly to a USB A port on a computer. If the USB port on the computer is Type-C, use a Type-C to Type-A adapter, for example.
• Use an Apple-made Lightning to USB Camera Adapter when connecting to an iOS/iPadOS device. Use a host adapter when connecting to an Android/Chrome device that does not have a Type-A USB port.
• Operation is not guaranteed when connected using any other USB cable. Moreover, Type-C Type-C cables cannot be used.
Connect headphones to the headphone jack on the bottom of the mic.

Before connecting headphones, minimize the volume with the VOLUME knob. Failure to do so might cause sudden loud noises, which could harm your hearing or result in other trouble.

Open the Sound settings screen on the computer being used in a suitable way. Show and select this mic (TM-250U) as the input and output device, and confirm that it has not been disabled. Check settings related to volume in the software being used.
If direct monitoring is enabled, turn the VOLUME knob to about the halfway point. Then, while speaking toward the mic, raise and adjust the GAIN knob to a level that does not cause the voice to distort.
While outputting audio from the computer, use the GAIN knob to adjust the level of the mic input to achieve a suitable balance. Then, use the VOLUME knob to adjust the overall volume. See this FAQ for instructions about using direct monitoring and other topics.
(https://tascam.jp/int/product/tm-250u/faq)

NOTE

The MUTE button only mutes the mic input.
Signals from the computer will be output from the headphone jack regardless of the MUTE button status.
Direct monitoring settings are only enabled with Windows and Mac.

Do not place the mic near or point it at a speaker or headphones. Doing this might result in sudden loud noises caused by feedback. This could harm your hearing or lead to other trouble.

Troubleshooting

If you are having trouble with the operation of this unit, please try the following before seeking repair.
If these measures do not solve the problem, please contact the store where you purchased this unit or TASCAM customer support service.

Mic not recognized

Connect the unit to a different USB port on the computer.

Mic input not possible

Confirm that the MUTE Button is not on.
Confirm that the GAIN and VOLUME are not turned all the way down.
Is it selected as the input device on the computer being used? Is it disabled?

No sound is output

Is the headphone jack connected properly?
Is the VOLUME knob raised to a suitable level?
Is it selected as the output device on the computer being used? Is it disabled?
Is the cable being used designed only for power supply? Use the included cable.

Volume is low

Is the VOLUME knob raised to a suitable level? Sound is distorted
Is the GAIN knob set too high?

Sound breaks up or there is noise

Confirm that the connection cables do not have contact issues.
The processing load on the computer causes sound to break up and noise to occur.
If a wireless LAN or background software, including antivirus software, is running, turn it off during use of this unit. In addition, set the PC Control Panel “Power Options” to “High performance” (Windows).
Disable audio devices other than this one in the sound settings on the computer to prevent them from affecting the sound.

Specifications

Format: high-quality condenser capsule
Directionality: Supercardioid
Frequency response: 20 Hz 20 kHz
Sensitivity: -32 dB (0 dB 1V/Pa at 1kHz)
Maximum SPL: 130 dB (at 1kHz = 1% THD)
Quantization bit depth: 16-bit
Sampling frequencies